Multiple position solenoid device



Sept. 27, 1966 B. KUMM MULTIPLE POSITION SOLENOID DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Jan. 6, 1964 INVENTOR. BRENT KUMM AT TORNEYS Sept. 27, 1966 B.KUMM MULTIPLE POSITION SOLENOID DEVICE Filed Jan. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR BRENT K UM M BY ATTORNE YS United States Patent 3,275,964MULTIPLE POSITION SOLENOID DEVICE Brent Kumm, South Bend, Ind, assignorto Koontz-Wagner Electric Company, Inc, South Bend, Iud., a corporationof Indiana Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Scr. No. 335,904 Claims. (Cl. 335-259)The present invention relates to solenoids and more particularly to amultiple position solenoid device.

In recent years, with the development of digital computers andsophisticated machine tools, a demand has been created for actuating andcontrol mechanisms which can give a number of preselected positionsaccurately in either direction, and which responds instantaneously tothe input signal. In the past, the actuating or control mechanism hasbeen primarily either a hydraulically operated system in which valvesand hydraulic servo-motors are, employed to obtain the various desiredpositions, or a plurality of linear type standard or conventionalsolenoids are used progressively or simultaneously to obtain the desiredpositions. The hydraulic actuating or control mechanisms are often bulkyand too large to be conveniently installed in the complicated andcompact mechanisms, and at times are not sufiiciently responsive to thesignal to meet demands. Likewise, the plurality of individual linearsolenoids are too large and cumbersome I to be easily incorporated invarious places in the sophisticated digital computers, so that theirapplication is often limited by physical requirements of the mechanismsor the delicacy of the elements or components of the mechanismscontrolled thereby. It is therefore one of the principal objects of thepresent invention to provide a multiple position solenoid device whichis relatively light in weight, compact and rugged in structure, andwhich has a relatively large number of predetermined positions capableof being obtained instantaneously by the operation of the device ineither direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a servo-motor ofthe solenoid type which positively selects any one of a number ofpredetermined positions in response to an input signal or signals, andwhich accurately finds the desired position without hunting and withouthaving first to dwell at any intermediate positions in reaching thedesired position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multipleposition solenoid device which can be readily installed in confinedplaces as a single unit and readily connected to the control mechanismor line without interfering with other closely spaced components of theprincipal mechanism or apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a solenoiddevice of the aforesaid type which is capable of operating a controlledelement over a wider range and at greater distances than can be done bystandard or conventional linear solenoids, and which is adapted to beoperated over the entire range as a substantially single stroke or inmultiple strokes or positions as required by any particular operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simplemultiple posit-ion solenoid device which can be easily fabricated usingprimarily standard materials, and thereafter installed without the useof special tools or special power input lines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solenoid whichcan instantaneously position an element or instrument repeatedly overlong periods of time without servicing and which is readily adapted fora variety of different types of operations without requiring any changein the basic structure of the device.

Additional objects and advantages of the present in- "ice vention willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the solenoid embodying thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the solenoid shown inFIGURE 1, the section being taken on line 22 of the latter figure;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross sectional view of the solenoid shown inFIGURES 1 and 2, the section being taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the solenoid shown inthe preceding figures, the section being taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an offset transverse cross sectional view of the presentsolenoid, the section being taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a modified form ofthe present solenoid, the section being similar to that shown in FIGURE2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and to FIGURES l and 2 inparticular, numeral 10 designates the present solenoid generally, 12 theend of solenoid housing 14, and 16 an operating shaft mounted on andsecured to an armature 18 of one of the solenoid elements incorporatedin the present device. The size and specific shape of the presentsolenoid may be changed or modified to adapt the solenoid to variousoperations and functions. Further, in certain installations it may bedesirable to completely close and hermetically seal the solenoid toprevent any possibility of the electrical components of the solenoidfrom creating a fire hazard, particularly when the solenoid is used inconjunction with control mechanisms for liquid or gaseous fuels.

The solenoid shown in FIGURES 1 through 5 consists of two basic sections20 and 22, section 20 consist- I ing of two ring-shaped coils 24 and 26mounted rigidly in one end of housing 14. The two solenoid sections maybe of standard or conventional construction, consisting briefly of wirecoil 28 on core 30 which, together with the external side walls ofhousing 14 and end 12, forms a magnetic path for coil 26 and, incombination with the external side wall of housing 14 and annular endmember 32, forms a magnetic path for coil 24, the two coils beingseparated by a magnetic barrier 33. The two coils 24 and 26 aresubstantially identical in construction and are wound on the same core30 forming an integral unit which can be inserted into the end ofhousing 14. Reciproca-bly disposed in center opening 34 of core 30 aretwo armatures 36 and 18 for coils 24 and 26, respectively. Armature 36consists of a generally cylindrically-shaped body having afrusto-conically shaped end 40 and a conically shaped recessed end 42. Anonmagnetic tubular member 43 and 43' forms part of the inner wall ofcore 30 to form the magnetic path through the two armatures. Thearmature has a hollow center 44 in which a plug 46 is threadedlysecured, the plug having a stem 48 secured thereto and extending intothe hollow center 50 of armature 18. The stem is provided with a head 52which interlocks with internal flange 54 on the inner end of armature18, thus forming a lost motion connection between armatures 36 and 18.The inner end of armature 18 is frusto-conically shaped to correspond tothe shape of the frusto-conical recessed end 4-2, and a coil spring 56is interposed between the two armatures to urge the two armatures apartwhen the coil 26 is not energized. Shaft 16 is secured to the outer endof armature 18 by an enlarged threaded portion 60 threadedly received inthe outer end of hollow center 50, and is adapted to move with armature18. Armature 36 is operatively connected to solenoid mechanism section22 by shaft 70 having a head 72 thereon .1 3 with a stem 74 connectedthereto and extending into the hollow center 44 of armature 36. Head 72and armature 36 are connected to one another by a lost motion connectionconsisting of head 76 on the end of stem 74 seated in hollow center 44and adapted to engage an internal flange 78 on armature 36. The stem 74is secured to head 72 by threaded end 80 received in threaded hole 82 inhead 72, head 72 and armature 36 being urged apart by a coil spring 84disposed around stem 74 and contacting head 72 at one end and armature36 at the other end. A recess 86 of the same size and shape as conicalend 40 is provided on the adjacent surface of head 72. When solenoid 26is energized, armature 18 moves to the left, endeavoring to seat onarmature 36, thereby moving shaft 16 to the left. When solenoid 24 isenergized independently of solenoid 26, head 52 of stem 48 engagesshoulder 54 and pulls armature 18 inwardly, thereby moving stem 48,armature 18 and shaft 16 to the left to position the shaft at one of itsintermediate positions.

Solenoid mechanism section 22 consists of three substantially identicalcoils 90, 92 and 94 spaced longitudinally and secured rigidly in housing14. Coils 92 and 94 are identical in construction, each consisting of acore 96, end wall 98 and outer member 100 forming a magnetic path andsubstantially enclosing a coil of wire 102. Coil 90 is the same inconstruction as coils 92 and 94 except core 96 does not have a centeropening. Shaft 70 extends through center openings 104 of coils 92 and 94and has disc-shaped armatures 106, 108 and 110 mounted thereon andadapted to move to and from the respective coils 90, 92 and 94 as thosecoils are energized and deenergized. Armature 106 is mounted rigidly onthe end of shaft 70 and armatures 108 and 110 are mounted for axialmovement on the shaft and are resiliently held against collars 112 and114, respectively, by springs 116 and 118, reacting against fixedcollars 120 and 122, respectively. The three coils are held in a fixedposition by an annular stop member 124 rigidly secured to the innersurface of housing 14, and the armatures are moved away from therespective coils by spring 126 urging shaft 70 to the right, as viewedin FIGURE 2.

In the operation of the solenoid illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 5,energization of coil 24 causes armature 36 to move to the left, therebythrough stem 48 and head 52 moving armature 18 and shaft 16 to the leftto the first position. Energization of solenoid 26 moves armature 18 andshaft 16 further to the left to a second position. When the two coils 24and 26 are energized, energization of coil 94 moves armature 110, whichis seated against stop 114, to the left, thereby moving shaft 70, head72, armatures 36 and 18, and shaft 16 further to the left to a thirdposition. Energization of coil 92 moves armature 108 to the left, movingshaft 70, head 72, armatures 36 and 18, and shaft 16 further to the leftto a fourth position. Since armature 110 was seated on coil 94 when thiscoil was energized, the further movement of shaft 70 by coil 92 andarmature 108 causes spring 118 to be compressed, thereby permitting theshaft to slide through the center opening of armature 110. Energizationof coil 90 moves armature 106 further to the left, pulling shaft 70,head 72, armatures 36 and 18, and shaft 16 to the left to a fifthposition and further compressing spring 118 and compressing spring 116,thus permitting shaft 70 to mOVe while armatures 108 and 110 are seatedon the face of coils 92 and 94. Operation of any one of the coilsbetween 24 and 90 will position shaft 16 in any intermediate position tosatisfy requirements. When all of the solenoids have been deenergized,spring 126 returns shaft 70 and head 72 to their original position, andsprings 84 and 56 return armatures 36 and 18 and shaft 16 to theiroriginal positions.

The solenoid mechanism shown in FIGURE 6 is essentially the same assolenoid mechanism section 22 and solenoid Sit/Lion 1.30 has replacedsolenoid section 20 and is adapted to move the entire housing 14'. Sincethe construction of the solenoid mechanism section 22 is substantiallythe same as that of solenoid mechanism section 22, the same numeralswith primes will be given to the corresponding elements and theseelements will not be described in detail herein.

The solenoid section 130, which is anchored and shifts housing 14' tothe left when energized, consists of a coil 132 having wire 134 wound onhollow core 136.

An armature 138 is disposed in the hollow center of core 136 and isadapted to move longitudinally therein to and from pole piece 140. Astem 142 rigidly connects the inner end of armature 138 to the end ofextension 144 of housing 14', so that as armature 138 is moved to theleft and right as coil 132 is energized and deenergized, housing 14'will be moved correspondingly to the left and right, as seen in FIGURE6. The element or instrument to be operated and positioned by thesolenoid mechanism shown in FIGURE 6 is connected to shaft 70' by anextension 148 of shaft 70', the extension extending through the centerof coil 94 and projecting outwardly therefrom.

In the operation of the solenoid mechanism, as shown in FIGURE 6,energization of solenoid section 130 moves armature 138 to the left,thereby, through stem 142, moving housing 14' and extension 148 to theleft to a first position. Thereafter, energization successively of coils94, 92 and moves extension 148 successively to second, third and fourthpositions. When all of the coils have been deenergized, a spring orother resilient means urges extension 148, shaft 70' and housing 14' tothe right and applies sufficient pressure on stem 142 to return armature138 to its original position preparatory to the next positioningoperation.

While only two embodiments of the present invention have been describedherein, various changes and modifications may be made to satisfyrequirements.

I claim:

1. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising acylindrically-shaped housing, first and second coils mounted in one endof said housing and having hollow cores, two axially movableplunger-like armatures disposed in said cores and spaced from oneanother for relative axial movement, a lost motion connection betweensaid armatures, a stern on one of said armatures for connection with anelement to be operated by said device, a plurality of additional coilshaving cores with hollow centers spaced from one another in axialalignment in said housing, a shaft extending through the cores andhaving a head thereon, a lost motion connection between said armaturesand said head, a disc-shaped armature on said shaft for each of saidlast mentioned coils, each being spaced progressively further from itsrespective coil when the coils are deenergized, and a lost motionconnection between said shaft and each of said last mentioned armaturesexcept the one having the greatest distance to travel to its respectivecoil when the coil is energized.

2. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising a housing, first andsecond coils forming a first section, mounted in one end of said housingand having hollow cores, two axially movable plunger-like armaturesdisposed in said cores and spaced from one another for relative axialmovement, a lost motion connection between said armatures, a stem on oneof said armatures for connection with an element to be operated by saiddevice, first, second and third coils spaced from one another in axialalignment and forming a second section, the cores of the first andsecond coils of said second section having hollow centers, a shaftextending through the hollow centers of said cores, a lost motionconnection between said armatures and the adjacent end of said shaft, adiscshaped armature on said shaft for each of the coils of said secondsection, each being spaced progressively further from its respectivecoil when the coils are deenergized,

and a lost motion connection between said shaft and each of thearmatures for said first and second coils.

3. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising a housing, a firstcoil mounted in one end of said housing and having a hollow core, anarmature in said core, a stern connected to one end of said armature andextending from said housing, a plurality of additional coils havingcores with hollow centers spaced from one another in axial alignment insaid housing, a shaft extending through the last mentioned cores, a lostmotion connection operatively connecting said shaft to said armature, adisc-shaped armature on said shaft for each of said additional coils,each being spaced progressively further from its respective coil whenthe coils are deenergized, and a lost motion connection between saidshaft and each of said last mentioned armatures except the one havingthe greatest distance to travel to its respective coil.

4. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising first and secondcoils having hollow cores and forming a first section, plunger-likearmatures disposed in said cores and spaced from one another forrelative axial movement, a lost motion connection between saidarmatures, a stem on one of said armatures for connection with anelement to be operated by said device, a plurality of coils forming asecond section and having cores with hollow centers spaced from oneanother in axial alignment, a shaft extending through the cores andhaving a head thereon, a lost motion connection between said armaturesand said head, a disc-shaped armature on said shaft for each of saidsecond section coils, each being spaced progressively further from itsrespective coil when the coils are deenergized, and a lost motionconnection between said shaft and each of said last mentioned armatures.

5. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising first and secondcoils forming a first section and having hollow cores, two axiallymovable plunger-like armatures disposed in said cores and spaced fromone another for relative axial movement, a lost motion connectionbetween said armatures, a stem on one of said armatures for connectionwith an element to be operated by said device, two additional coilshaving cores with hollow centers spaced from one another in axialalignment, a shaft extending through the last mentioned cores, a lostmotion connection between said armatures and the adjacent end of saidshaft, a disc-shaped armature on said shaft for each of said lastmentioned coils, each being spaced progressively further from itsrespective coil when the coils are deenergized, and a lost motionconnection between said shaft and each of said last mentioned armatures.

'6. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising a first coil havinga hollow core, a plunger-like armature in said core, a stem connected toone end of said armature and extending therefrom, a plurality ofadditional coils having cores with hollow centers spaced from oneanother in axial alignment, a shaft extending through the last mentionedcores and operatively connected to said armature, a disc-shaped armatureon said shaft for each of said last mentioned coils, each being spacedprogressively further from its respective coil when the coils aredeenergized, a lost motion connection between said shaft and each ofsaid last mentioned armatures and a lost motion connection between saidshaft and said plunger-like armature.

7. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising a housing, aplurality of coils having cores with hollow centers spaced from oneanother in axial alignment in said housing, a shaft extending throughsaid hollow centers, a disc-shaped armature on said shaft for each ofsaid coils, each being spaced progressively further from the respectivecoil when the coils are deenergized, a lost motion connection betweensaid shaft and each of said last mentioned armatures, a solenoidconnected to said housing for moving said housing in the directionaxially with respect to said shaft, and an extension on said shaft forconnection with an element to be operated by said device.

8. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising a housing, two coilshaving cores with hollow centers spaced from one another in axialalignment in said housing, a shaft extending through the cores,armatures on said shaft for said coils, each being spaced progressivelyfurther from the respective coil when the coils are deenergized, a lostmotion connection between said shaft and each of said last mentionedarmatures, a solenoid connected to said housing for moving said housingin the direction axially with respect to said shaft, and an extension onsaid shaft for connection with an element to be operated by said device.

9. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising three coils spacedfrom one another, the first two coils having cores with hollow centersin axial alignment, a shaft extending through the cores of said firsttwo coils, armatures on said shaft for said three coils, each beingspaced progressively further from the respective coil when the coils aredeenergized, a lost motion connection between said shaft and each of thearmatures of said first two coils, and a positive connection betweensaid shaft and the armature of said third coil.

10. A multiple position solenoid device, comprising a plurality of coilshaving cores with hollow centers and spaced from one another in axialalignment, a shaft extending through the cores, a disc-shaped armatureon said shaft for each of said coils, each being spaced progressivelyfurther from the respective coil when the coils are deenergized, a lostmotion connection between said shaft and each of said armatures, asolenoid for moving said coils and shafts bodily in the directionaxially with respect to said shaft to vary the effective force thereof,and an extension on said shaft for connection with an element to beoperated by said device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,739 12/1948Sherrill 251137 X 2,619,121 11/1952 Renick 25177 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,8278/1896 Norway.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

G. HARRIS, JR., Assistant Examiner.

1. A MULTIPLE POSITION SOLENOID DEVICE, COMPRISING ACYLINDRICALLY-SHAPED HOUSING, FIRST AND SECOND COILS MOUNTED IN ONE ENDOF SAID HOUSING AND HAVING HOLLOW CORES, TWO AXIALLY MOVABLEPLUNGER-LIKE ARMATURES DISPOSED IN SAID CORES AND SPACED FROM ONEANOTHER FOR RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT, A LOST MOTION CONNECTION BETWEENSAID ARMATURES, A STEM ON ONE OF SAID ARMATURES FOR CONNECTION WITH ANELEMENT TO BE OPERATED BY SAID DEVICE, A PLURALITY OF ADDITIONAL COILSHAVING CORES WITH HOLLW CENTERS SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER IN AXIALALIGNMENT IN SAID HOUSING, A SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH THE CORES ANDHAVING A HEAD THEREON, A LOST MOTION CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID ARMATURESAND SAID HEAD, A DISC-SHAPED ARMATURE ON SAID SHAFT FOR EACH OF SAIDLAST MENTIONED COILS, EACH BEING SPACED PROGRESSIVELY FURTHER FROM ITSRESPECTIVE COIL WHEN